Artifact Under Exam – Riding on the Coattails of History
Originally published in 2020 in the Surgeon’s Call, Volume 25, No.1
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Quite recently, Greg Kelly, an intern from the Museum Studies Program at George Washington University, and I had the opportunity to work together to catalog and stabilize a frock coat currently being housed in the Collections Room at the NMCWM. Karen Whitehair, Collections Manager, decided the coat was in need of an updated database record and storage solution. Being rather new to the museum, I was elated to have the opportunity to help with such a project. According to Museum records, the frock coat belonged to Louis D. Radzinsky, an Assistant Surgeon in the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Over the course of a few weekends, Greg and I became intimately familiar with Radzinsky’s coat and ultimately the wearer himself. Under Karen’s careful supervision, Greg and I began the project by thoroughly analyzing and documenting the coat inside and out. After assigning quadrants for more detailed documentation, we got to work. For each quadrant, we noted areas of concern, recorded general measurements, took photographs, and reported what we found. Every hole was painstakingly noted, even ones too small to be measured. Evidence of fabric discoloration, missing buttons, and loose thread was documented as well. We noted everything down to the smell of the material, which Greg insisted had hints of body odor still clinging to the fabric. The purpose of gathering all this information was twofold: for us to gain experience in collections care and to track the condition of the coat to aid future collections stewards. While documenting the coat, subtle details were revealed that might have otherwise gone unnoticed had we not spent as much time preparing it for storage. Such details included mismatched thread with inconsistent stitching patterns along the cuffs of the sleeves and neckline. Perhaps this is evidence of Radzinsky’s own mending? There was also significant wear on the interior armpits of the sleeves and the opening of the coat. Both are places where rubbing would naturally occur on the fabric as arms swing and buttons are buttoned repeatedly. These signs of wear could also indicate general use of the garment, beyond the gradual deterioration that appears to have occurred over time. Details like these breathe life into the inanimate object and allow viewers to imagine the frock coat being put to use by Radzinsky himself. Once we had finished our initial overview of the coat, we prepared the garment for storage. Using proper conservation techniques, we vacuumed every inch of the coat through a nylon screen to prevent fibers original to the fabric from being pulled out. The screen also helped mitigate possible damage from the suction of the vacuum. Only dust and other debris were removed, leaving the coat ready for packing. After the vacuuming was complete, we prepared multiple woven polyester tubes, often referred to as stockinettes, which we stretched and shaped by inserting polyester fiberfill. The various sized stockinettes were then strategically placed in the interior of the coat in areas that required additional support, such as the sleeves, neckline, and torso of the garment. With the protective buffer created between the layers of fabric, the coat was ready to be placed in an acid-free storage box and returned to the Collections Room. Throughout this process, not only did I have the opportunity to learn more about various processes of collections care, but also the intricacies of the frock coat itself. Analyzing the fabric of the coat offered a more intimate view of Radzinsky’s ownership of the object. Such evidence of ownership is what connects the work we do at the NMCWM to the people, places, and events of the past. Considering the damage that objects like Radzinsky’s coat sustain over time, projects like these are vital to preserving that connection. As for me, this project was also a valuable reminder of the importance of thorough documentation, active record keeping, and proper storage. I can only hope to continue to be involved in similar projects during my time at the NMCWM.
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